Method of and means for forming flake ice



Nov. 17, 1953 G. M. LEES METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING FLAKE ICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1950 gill/4 ive/22 07 era/c/ 7722/6615 Nov. 17, 1953 G, M, LE S 2,659,212

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING FLAKE ICE Filed Sept. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 imumlw war/gym Patented Nov. 17, 1953 METHOD OF AND -MEAN S FOR. FORMING FLAKE ICE Gerald M. Lees, Chicago,

Mfg. 00., Chicago, Ill

nois

Ill., assiguor to Akshun a corporation of Illi- Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,738

8, Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved method of and means for forming flake ice characterized by low power requirements and production of flake ice without substantial quantities of powdered ice.

In one type of flake ice making machine, a vertical, double walled drum is used. Refrigerant is circulated in the annular space between the walls and water is sprayed on the interior surface of the same by a rotating spray nozzle. As the nozzle rotates, and Water is deposited on the interior of the drum, a sheet of ice is formed on that surface and adheres thereto. This sheet is then dislodged by suitable cutter elements to form flake ice.

Successful formation of flake ice by the above mechanism is dependent upon the effective removal of the adhering ice without expenditure of unreasonable mechanical energy and without formation of excessive undesirable powdered ice or snow.

In accordance with the present invention, true flake ice is formed without excessive mechanical work and without production of excessive powdered ice by first scoring the sheet of ice in a series of parallel grooves and then exerting lateral pressure along each score line to dislodge the ice in flakes. This scoring action and the fOllOWil'lg shearing action is accomplished by the use of an ice cutting blade having a scoring edge adapted to penetrate the ice progressively to form score lines and a trailing or shearing edge forming an extension of the scoring edge and oriented laterally of the direction of travel to exert pressure tending to shear the ice in a direction parallel to the surface of the container to break the bond between the ice and the container. In the ice forming machine, the knives are mounted in an array on a carriage rotating in unison with the revolving water jet and sufficiently behind the same to enable the water to freeze.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the flake ice is formed without excessive production of powdered ice forming each ice, cutting blade with a beveled face to form the cutting surface and a mating notch on the opposite face. The notch accommodates fiexure of the ice under pressure from the beveled surface next above to avoid the cracking action that otherwise would produce powdered ice.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved flake ice making.

method and apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and. apparatus. for.

making flake ice and characterized by small mechanical power requirements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for making flake ice with a minimum quantity of powdered ice.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an axial cross-sectional view with parts in elevation of a vertical drum type flake ice making machine constructed in accordance with the principles .of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through axis 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view through axis 3-3, Figure 1, showing the ice cutting blade and associated parts to even larger scale;

Figure 4 is a view through cross-section 4-4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through axis 5-5, Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 6-6, Figure 3, showing the ice cutting blade and method thereof;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through axis 1-7, Figure 3; and,

Figure 8 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view like Figure 7 but showing only the tip of the ice cutting blade.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown generally at In a double walled vertical drum. having a smooth inner wall I 8a of stainless steel or similar material. The outerwall lllb in conjunction with the inner wall Ilia defines an annular space I2 within which refrigerant is circulated from inlet pipe M to outlet-pipe 15 to maintain the inner wall 10a below the freezing temperature of water.

A shaft l8 having a square portion Illa is supported coaxially within the inner wall lilo. by the thrust bearing 28' which engages a shoulder formed on the shaft and is rotated slowly by suitable pinion means (not shown) meshing with the gear 22.

The shaft It carries a spray mechanism (not shown) which sprays water radially outwardly against, at least the top portion of the inner wall, Ina. consequently, as the shaft is slowly revolves, water is continuously applied to the inner wall Illa and freezes. thereon to form. a.

layer of ice 24, Figure 2. As described in further detail hereafter, this layer is removed by the action of the apparatus of the present invention. The thickness of the ice in a typical machine may be of the order of inches for one transverse of the spraying means around the inner wall I811.

The square portion 18a of shaft 18 carries a pair of vertically spaced horizontal arms 26. These arms are defined by the triangular horizontal members 261; which are suitably notched to receive the shaft portion [8a and are welded thereto by the vertical triangular webs 251) which are welded to the shaft portion lBa as shown in Figure 2 and to the portions 26a to form a rigid arm structure.

The horizontal portions 26a of the arms 26 are cut short to define vertical pads 25c as shown in Figure 2. An L-shaped vertical beam 30 is secured to these pads by bolts 32 and is in parallel relationship with the inner wall We as shown in Figure l. The other face 38a of the L-beam 3c carries the blade members indicated generally at 34, the blade members forming a uniformly spaced array extending substantially the full length of the inner well its as shown in Figure l. Bolts 33 are threadedly received on the blades 3 to secure the same to the face 38a of beam 38.

The construction of the blades is shown in detail in Figures 3 to 8. As shown, each blade is of L-shaped configuration with a vertical face Bea in which the bolts 35 are threadedly received. Each blade also has a horizontal or top face 3% shaped in the form of a rectangle with one long edge cut off at an angle as shown in Figure 3. The out off portion of the blade 35 is indicated at 38, Figure 3. In this region the blade is beveled from below at Figure 7, to define an edge 42. It will be observed that this edge extends from a leading region 42a out of contact with the ice 24 to a tail portion 421) which is in contact with the ice 2 and penetrates a substantial distance therein. It will be observed that as the blade is carried by the shaft 18 around the inner periphery of the wall Elia the blade 34 penetrates the ice 2% and does so by the progressive action of successive portions of the edge 22, ending in a point of maximum penetration defined by the trailing I portion of the edge at 212.

Rearwardly of the point 421) each blade has a downwardly inclined portion A l as shown in Figure 4. In this portion the bottom outside edge of the blade is beveled at 45a to define an edge Mb against which the grooved portions of the ice 2 bear. It will be observed that the edge 44b is oriented in a substantially tangential direction in relation to the inner wall [to so that there is little, if any, tendency on the part of edge idb to increase the depth of the grooves of the ice as formed by the edge 42. However, because of the tilt of edge Mb, as shown in Figure 4, the ice against which edge Mb bears is deflected downwardly and hence in a direction normal to the direction of the grooves formed in the ice and parallel to the face to which the ice 24 adheres.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the blades 34 are each grooved on their upper faces adjacent the trailing portion of edge 42 to define the groove 48 which is shown in greatly enlarged view in Figure 8. It will be observed that the bottom of this groove is approximately parallel to the beveled portion 40 which defines the edge 42.

The grooves 46 relieve the interference that otherwise forms by reason of the action of the lower edge 40 of each blade. This interference arises from the apparent tendency of the ice 24 to flex in response to the pressure exerted by the beveled face 40 as the edge 42 penetrates the ice 24 to form grooves. In any event, I have discovered that with the grooves 46 formed as shown, the quantity of powdered ice produced is substantially reduced with the incident advantage of producing a greater quantity of cracked ice having a greater degree of freedom from contaminating powdered ice.

The apparatus and method of the present invention possesses the advantage of breaking the bond between the ice 24 and the inner wall (0a to free the ice in fragments without the expenditure of an excessive quantity of expensive mechanical energy. In actual tests it has been found possible to drive a lO-ton machine with a A; horsepower motor without overloading it to produce 20 tons of ice per horsepower. Machines otherwise similar but without using the blades and method of the present invention have produced less than A; this quantity of ice per horsepower.

It will be observed that the trailing edge 44b of the blade 34 recedes in relation to the leading edge 38, Figure 3. Thus, the trailing edge is oriented more nearly radially than the leading edge and exhibits negligible tendency to bite into or further indent the ice.

While I have shown and described a specific type of ice making machine embodying the method and apparatus of the presentinvention, it will of course be understood that the invention is applicable to other types of ice making machines where it is desired to break ice adhering to a surface, either arcuate or plane, in the form of flakes. It will also be understood that various modifications and alternative arrangements in the process and apparatus may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternatives as fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A knife to remove ice in flakes from a surface to which it is frozen comprising a body of ice cutting material having a substantially straight scoring edge of substantial extent adapted to indent the ice to form a groove as it A travels thereover, and a shearing edge tilted in relation to the scoring edge and positioned at its forward part to ride in the groove to apply pressure transverse to the direction of indentation to shear the bond between the ice and the surface to which it is frozen.

2. A knife to remove ice in flakes from a surface to which it is frozen comprising a body of ice cutting material having a continuous cutting edge with a substantially straight leading portion of substantial extent to indent the ice as it travels thereover and a shearing portion tilted in relation to the leading portion and positioned at its forward part to ride in the groove to apply pressure transverse to the direction of indentation to shear the bond between the ice and the surface to which it is frozen.

3. The method of removing ice in flakes from a surface to which it is frozen comprising the steps of scoring the ice along its exposed surface in a continuous straight line motion throughout the extent of the freezing surface and then forcing the ice in direction transverse to the direction of score to shear the bond between the ice and the surface to which it is frozen.

4. The method of removing ice flakes from a surface to which it i frozen comprising the steps of scoring the ice along its exposed surface in an array of spaced grooves throughout the extent of the freezing surface and then forcing the ice in direction transverse to the direction of scoring by pressure applied along the grooves to shear the bond between the ice and the surface to which it is frozen.

5. In a machine for making flake ice, the improvement comprising a cylinder, means to form a sheet of ice on the interior of the cylinder, a shaft coaxial with the cylinder, an arm extending radially from the shaft, and a blade of ice cutting material on the end of the arm positioned to engage the ice, the blade having a scoring edge oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the shaft to groove the ice as the shaft is rotated, the blade further having a shearing edge tilted in relation to said plane to apply pressure transverse to the direction of score to shear the bond between the ice and the cylinder.

6. In a machine for making flake ice, the improvement comprising a cylinder, means to form a sheet of ice on the interior of the cylinder, a shaft coaxial with the cylinder, an arm extending radially from the shaft, and a series of ice cutting blades carried on the end of the arm and positioned to engage the ice along a line substantially parallel to the shaft, each blade having a scoring edge oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the shaft to groove the ice in a series of parallel grooves as the shaft is rotated and a shearing edge tilted in relation to the plane of the scoring edge to apply pressure transverse to the direction of score to shear the bond between the ice and the cylinder.

7. In a machine for making flake ice, the improvement comprising a cylinder having an axis,

.means to form a sheet of ice on the surface of the cylinder, a rotor adapted to rotate about the axis of the cylinder, and a blade of ice cutting material on the rotor positioned to engage the ice as the rotor turns, the blade having a scoring leading edge oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and having gradually varying radial extents to bite progressively into the ice as the rotor turns, the blade further having a trailing shearing edge tilted in relation to said plane and of substantially constant radial extent.

8. In a machine for making flake ice, the improvement comprising a cylinder having an axis, means to form a sheet of ice on the interior of the cylinder, a rotor within the cylinder and adapted to rotate about the axis thereof, and a blade of ice cutting material on the rotor positioned to engage the ice as the rotor turns, the blade having a scoring leading edge oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and having gradually increasing radial extent to bite progressively into the ice as the rotor turns, the blade further having a trailing shearing edge tilted in relation to said plane and of substantially constant radial extent.

GERALD M. IEES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 402,968 Railsback May 7, 1889 1,020,759 Holden Mar. 19, 1912 1,160,843 Carlton Nov. 16, 1915 2,063,770 Taylor Dec. 8, 1936 2,431,278 Raver Nov. 18, 1947 2,521,089 Phipps Sept. 5, 1950 2,549,215 Mansted Apr. 17, 1951 2,575,374 Walsh Nov. 20, 1951 2,585,020 Lessard Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,021 Lessard Feb. 12, 1952 

